Simvastatin belongs to the class of drugs known as statins that are used lower cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you are taking simvastatin to treat high cholesterol, you should eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet to maximize the effectiveness of the drug. Recent studies have investigated whether taking certain vitamins with simvastatin might increase its effectiveness. Surprisingly, one study found that some vitamins may actually lower the effectiveness of simvastatin. You should consult your doctor about which vitamins to take while using simvastatin.
Vitamin B-3
Numerous studies have found that vitamin B3, also known as niacin, increases the effectiveness of simvastatin, explains the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Some brand name formulations of simvastatin, such as Simcor, contain a combination of simvastatin and vitamin B-3.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is well known for its antioxidant properties, which has led doctors to suspect it may help to prevent coronary heart disease if used in conjunction with simvastatin. However, studies of combination therapy with simvastatin and vitamin C found no improvement over treatment with simvastatin alone, and some studies actually found a slight decrease in effectiveness compared to simvastatin alone, reports the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide.
Vitamin E
Similar to vitamin C, vitamin E has well known antioxidant properties, making it a good candidate for prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, studies of vitamin E and simvastatin combination therapies yielded either no increase or a decrease in effectiveness compared to simvastatin alone, similar to the results observed for vitamin C, the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide explains. Although the research is limited, you may want to discuss with your doctor avoiding vitamins C and E if you are taking simvastatin.
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